The American Spectator

The Nation's Pulse

Philosophers debate whether Reason can be adduced in support of Revelation, but they scoff at the source most of us use: Observation.

You tell me whether or not the truth of the following Talmud citation has been established beyond a reasonable doubt these past two weeks. "Just as a person's income over the next year is determined over the ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, so are the losses in capital he will sustain. If he is fortunate, he will give them to charity. If not, it goes to the government or to waste. Rabbi Johanan saw in a dream his nephews would lose seven hundred shekels the coming year. He kept pestering them for charities until he had collected 683. On the last day before Yom Kippur, a special tax from the government took the last 17." (Bava Batra 10a)

Watching the forces of depletion make our assets evaporate right up until the Day of Atonement should soften even the most adamant skeptic. So, having experienced the problem, let us trust that same tradition for the solution.

Repeat after me (my adaptation of the liturgy):

Lord, pardon our shortcomings, forgive our violations and absolve us from all our negligence, for the sins we committed...

...under pressure or willfully

...toughening our hearts

...abandoning good judgment

...expressing with our lips

...openly or clandestinely

...crossing sexual barriers

...speaking with our mouths

...using strategy and wiles

...scheming in our hearts

...demeaning a friend

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